This post will serve as a rolling update of Week 8 football action across LebCo. With all six county teams in action this weekend, we’ll be compiling the latest details and highlights as the games unfold.
Be sure to check back often for updates on your favorite teams.
The Annville-Cleona/Pequea Valley recap was written using information provided by A-C student Jackson Hanley, a proud member of student body & serves as the school’s Student Sports Media Director.
The Cedar Crest/McCaskey recap was written by Gavin Sweeney, a local high school student and aspiring sports journalist.
The Northern Lebanon/Octorara recap was written by Northern Lebanon student Braydin Adams.
If you like this type of coverage, please let us know by Following us on social media: Twitter/X – @lebcosports1 and Facebook.
For any questions, comments, or discrepancies, please reach out to dan@lebcosports.com.
The LebCo Scoreboard
Saturday
Palmyra v Gettysburg
The Palmyra Cougars have shown flashes of progress throughout the season, with much of their success rooted in a strong defensive effort. On Saturday afternoon, however, it was the offense that stole the spotlight as the Cougars earned a 43-35 victory over Gettysburg in a Week 8 matchup played at Northern Lebanon.
Gettysburg opened the scoring early, testing Palmyra’s defense right out of the gate. But the Cougars wasted no time responding — Travis McDannell took the ensuing kickoff all the way back for a touchdown, and Talon Speck added the two-point conversion to give Palmyra an 8-7 lead. Moments later, a bad Gettysburg snap resulted in a safety, extending the advantage to 10-7.
The Cougar offense then found its rhythm. A long pass to Brayden Hoover set up quarterback Roman Russek for a rushing touchdown, and Palmyra kept the pressure on after recovering an onside kick attempt. By halftime, the Cougars had built a commanding 34-21 lead — their most explosive first-half performance of the season, already surpassing their previous single-game scoring high.
In the second half, Palmyra continued to execute efficiently, with Alex Csongondi hauling in a touchdown reception and Brenden Crout connecting on a field goal to help secure the 43-35 win.
Now sitting at 3-5, Palmyra will look to build on this offensive breakout when they host a talented Red Land team in Week 9.
Coach Pavone’s Postgame Thoughts
“I’m really happy for our kids to be back in the win column. We had a great week of practice and it paid off in a big way today with all three phases contributing. We talk a lot about playing complementary football and we did that today with big plays in all areas from various contributors.
After a tough four week stretch where three games were decided by a five combined points, our kids have just continued to dig in and believe in what we are building each day.”
Palmyra Stats
Passing: Roman Russek – 9/17, 171 yds, 2 TD, 1 Int; Jaxin Robinson – 4/4, 58 yds; Additional – 1/1, 39 yds
Rushing: Travis McDannell – 15 carries, 68 yds; Aaron Villafane – 12 carries, 53 yds, 1 fumble; Alex Csongradi – 6 carries, 27 yds; Roman Russek – 11 carries, 10 yds, 1 TD, 1 fumble; Carter Smith – 1 carry, 8 yds; Additional – 8 carries, 47 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: Braxtin Risser – 4 receptions, 95 yds, 1 TD; Brady Hoover – 2 receptions, 43 yds; Aaron Villafane – 1 reception, 39 yds; Talon Speck – 2 receptions, 18 yds; Nate Holt – 1 reception, 12 yds; Additional – 4 receptions, 61 yds, 1 TD
Defensive Leaders: Anthony Pinko – 2 tackles (5 assists); Travis McDannell – 2 tackles (4 assists), 1 TFL, 1 safety; Nate Holt – 1 tackle (5 assists), 1 safety; Jake Schelhorn – 1 tackle (4 assists); Aaron Villafane – 2 tackles (3 assists); Peter DiGuardia – 3 tackles; Gavin John – 2 tackles; Kyler Sparks – 1 tackle (1 assist); Jordan Francis – 1 tackle; Talon Speck – 1 tackle; Carter Smith – 1 assist; Wyatt Fogleman – 1 assist; Noah Krupko – 1 assist; Owen Kupstas – 1 assist; Team – 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Int, 1 Fum Rec
Scoring: Travis McDannell – 1 rushing TD; Braxtin Risser – 1 receiving TD; T. McDannell – 1 kickoff return TD; Brenden Crout – 2 FGs, 3 PATs
Special Teams:
Kick Returns – Travis McDannell, 1 for 81 yds, 1 TD; Team, 4 for 24 yds (avg 6.0)
Punt Returns – Alex Csongradi, 2 for 28 yds (long 27)
Kickoffs – Brenden Crout, 7 for 338 yds (long 60), 1 TB; Owen Kupstas, 1 for 11 yds; Carter Smith, 1 for 4 yds; Team, 2 for 81 yds (long 58)
Punting – Anthony Pinko, 1 for 40 yds
“Additional” is a player(s) unaccounted for on the stat sheet
Ready for your next getaway?
Friday
Annville-Cleona 35, Pequea Valley 14
One of the biggest surprises of the 2025 season has been the Annville-Cleona Dutchmen, who have stormed out to a 6-1 record with a mix of grit, determination, and late-game heroics. Their ability to win close contests was on display again in Week 7, when they stopped Lancaster Catholic’s two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds to seal a dramatic 21–20 victory.
While the Dutchmen’s success has turned heads across the league, the team knows that growth and consistency will be key as they look to make a postseason push. On Friday night, they put that focus on display in front of a packed homecoming crowd as they hosted Pequea Valley. Despite the Braves entering the game with a 3–4 record, Annville-Cleona was determined not to overlook their opponent.
The Dutchmen struck first when quarterback John Ditzler broke through the defense for a 6-yard touchdown run, giving Annville-Cleona a 7–0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Pequea Valley answered in the second quarter with a 44-yard scoring run that tied the game heading into halftime.
Whatever adjustments the Dutchmen made during the break clearly worked. Less than five minutes into the third quarter, Ditzler connected with James Garney for a 49-yard touchdown reception to reclaim the lead. Just two minutes later, Hudson Sellers added to the momentum with a 40-yard scoring run that stretched the advantage to 21–7.
Annville-Cleona continued to control the pace in the fourth quarter. On the opening play of the final frame, Yama Navarro powered his way across the goal line to make it 28–7. Pequea Valley managed to cut into the lead with a touchdown of their own, but the Dutchmen quickly responded as Sellers found daylight again—this time sprinting 40 yards for his second touchdown of the night.
That would cap the scoring, as Annville-Cleona earned a convincing 35–14 victory to improve to 7–1 overall and 5–0 in Section 5. For his outstanding effort on both sides of the ball, Sellers was named the recipient of the Steve Johnson Award.
The Dutchmen will look to keep their momentum rolling next week when they host Schuylkill Valley, with a potential Section 5 Championship showdown against Berks Catholic looming on the horizon.
Coach Gingrich’s Postgame Thoughts
“It’s always great to get the seventh of the year. If you had told us before the season that we’d have seven wins, we would’ve taken that right off the bat.
We didn’t have a great first half; I think there was a little over-scouting on my part. In the second half, we got back to what we do well and made a lot of big plays. We threw a long touchdown pass and then had two long runs.
Hudson Sellers won the Homecoming MVP — which is called the Steve Johnson Memorial Award. He had a lot of tackles on defense, three carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and a big 20-yard catch. So, a huge game for him.
A lot of kids played well, and now we’ve got our final two games against the two best teams in the section, which is pretty cool.”
Annville-Cleona Stats
Passing: John Ditzler – 2/3, 63 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Hudson Sellers – 3 carries, 104 yds, 2 TD; Devon Englehart – 19 carries, 47 yds; Jonathan Moran – 6 carries, 45 yds; Yamaliel Navarro – 5 carries, 26 yds, 1 TD; John Ditzler – 2 carries, 11 yds, 1 TD; Lane Peters – 2 carries, 11 yds; Danny Shay – 2 carries, 4 yds; Team Total – 248 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: James Garney – 1 reception, 51 yds, 1 TD; Hudson Sellers – 1 reception, 17 yds; Jonathan Moran – 1 reception, 12 yds
Defensive Leaders: Hudson Sellers – 12 tackles (8 solo, 4 assists), 4 TFL, 2 sacks; Kaidavin Ginting – 12 tackles (8 solo, 4 assists), 3 TFL, 1 QBH; Maddox White – 10 tackles (5 solo, 5 assists), 1 PD; Devon Englehart – 10 tackles (5 solo, 5 assists); Armani Santos – 10 tackles (6 solo, 4 assists), 2 TFL, 1 sack; Danny Shay – 7 tackles (3 solo, 4 assists), 2 TFL, 1 sack; Jonathan Moran – 8 tackles (3 solo, 5 assists), 1 PD; Jaxon Speece – 8 tackles (4 solo, 4 assists), 2 TFL, 1 FR; Daniel Shuey – 4 tackles (2 solo, 2 assists), 4 TFL, 1 sack; Levi Kreider – 6 tackles (3 solo, 3 assists); Jaylynn Moyer – 5 tackles (4 solo, 1 assist), 2 PD; Armani Santos – 1 QB hurry
Special Teams:
Kicking: Cian Soliday – 5/5 PAT, 5 kick pts
Punting: Cian Soliday – 2 punts, 45 yds (22.5 avg)
Kick Returns: Yamaliel Navarro – 1 return, 53 yds; Jonathan Moran – 1 return, 14 yds; Devon Englehart – 1 return, 12 yds
Punt Returns: Yamaliel Navarro – 4 returns, 40 yds (10.0 avg)
Scoring: Hudson Sellers – 2 rushing TD (12 pts); Yamaliel Navarro – 1 rushing TD (6 pts); John Ditzler – 1 rushing TD, 1 passing TD (12 pts); James Garney – 1 receiving TD (6 pts); Cian Soliday – 5/5 PAT (5 pts); Team Total – 5 TD, 35 points
Cedar Crest 48, McCaskey 6
The Cedar Crest Falcons took on the McCaskey Red Tornadoes for their Homecoming game, and they wasted no time setting the tone.
The Falcons struck first on a jet sweep, as Isaiah Zimmerman broke loose for a 28-yard touchdown. After missing last week’s game, Zimmerman bounced back immediately, making a strong statement in his junior season. The Falcon defense then held firm, forcing a stop that set up Eli Beard for a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 13-0.
McCaskey tried to find a rhythm, but their efforts were cut short when Skyler Sherman recovered a fumble for Cedar Crest. On the very next play, quarterback Steven Reyes connected with Kai Speaks on a 28-yard screen pass for another touchdown, pushing the lead to 20-0 as the Falcons headed into the second quarter.
The second quarter opened with chaos. The Falcons threw an interception, but Mason Copenhaver quickly got the ball back with a pick of his own. This time, the offense capitalized — Reyes found Speaks again on a dump-off pass that turned into a 28-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 27-0. McCaskey finally got on the board late in the half when Jones Hawkins hit Johnzell Trowley-Sibley for an 18-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 27-6.
Cedar Crest dominated the third quarter. Reyes kept it himself for a 17-yard touchdown run, and soon after, Copenhaverrecovered another fumble to give the Falcons more momentum. That turnover set up a 1-yard touchdown plunge from Eddiel Nunez, making it 41-6.
In the fourth quarter, the Falcons showed no signs of slowing down. Reyes broke free for a 50-yard run, setting up another short touchdown by Nunez. McCaskey tried to mount a late response, but Terrance Wilson sealed the win with an interception, closing out a commanding 48-6 victory for Cedar Crest.
With the win, the Falcons move to 4-4, evening their record at .500. They’ll look to keep their momentum rolling next week against powerhouse Hempfield High.
Lampeter-Strasburg 36, ELCO 14
The ELCO Raiders entered Week 8 riding a two-game winning streak, having earned back-to-back victories over Daniel Boone and Octorara. At 3–4 on the season, the Raiders had found some momentum — but they knew they’d need their best effort to keep it going against one of the toughest opponents on their schedule, the Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers.
Lampeter-Strasburg came into the matchup with a 6–1 record, their only loss coming in overtime against Solanco in a non-section game. Year after year, the Pioneers are among the best-coached teams in the Lancaster-Lebanon League, and their balanced, unpredictable offense poses a challenge for any opponent.
In preparation, Coach Bob Miller and his staff made sure to remind their players that a team’s identity is about more than just its record — it’s about heart, effort, and the lessons learned along the way.
The game opened with Lampeter-Strasburg establishing control early, building a 10–0 lead by the end of the first quarter. But ELCO answered back midway through the second, when Gavin Yeiser powered into the end zone from five yards out to cut the deficit to 10–7. The Pioneers responded with a field goal to extend their lead to 13–7.
Momentum seemed to swing just before halftime. After a fumble recovery gave L-S a short field, they punched in another touchdown with 1:34 left in the half. ELCO blocked the extra point to keep the score at 19–7, but a quick three-and-out forced the Raiders to punt — and the Pioneers returned it 60 yards for another touchdown. At the break, Lampeter-Strasburg led 26–7.
The Pioneers tacked on another field goal early in the second half to make it 29–7, the only points scored in the third quarter.
In the fourth, Ellis Gensamer gave ELCO a spark with a short touchdown run that cut the margin to 29–14. However, Lampeter-Strasburg responded one final time with a rushing touchdown to put the game out of reach. The Raiders fell by a final score of 36–16.
With the loss, ELCO moves to 3–5 overall but will look to finish the season strong. The Raiders will face Donegal and Northern Lebanon in their final two games — the same stretch they used last season to make a late push into the postseason.
The lessons learned against a powerhouse like Lampeter-Strasburg may prove valuable as this resilient Raiders team looks to write another strong finish to their season.
Coach Miller’s Postgame Thoughts
“Forget what anyone says. We did not play our best football, but we sure gave our best effort of the year and we are super proud of these guys. They never blinked and never backed down. That effort and mental toughness is what defined our guys tonight. We are proud.”
ELCO Stats
Passing: Brinley Donmoyer – 4/10, 37 yds
Rushing: Brinley Donmoyer – 18 carries, 73 yds; Ellis Gensamer – 11 carries, 31 yds, TD; Gavin Yeiser – 6 carries, 24 yds, TD; Dale Kohr – 1 carry, 3 yds
Receiving: Dalton Pyszka – 2 receptions, 32 yds; Gavin Yeiser – 2 receptions, 5 yds
Defensive Leaders: Griffin Kreider – 6 solo tackles, 2 assists, 8 TT; Cody Landis – 5 solo tackles, 2 assists, 7 TT; Ethan Bretzius – 4 solo tackles, 3 assists, 7 TT; Alejandro Weister – 4 solo tackles, 3 assists, 7 TT; Kayden Wagner – 3 solo tackles, 3 assists, 6 TT; CONNOR SHOWALTER – 1 solo tackle, 5 assists, 6 TT, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery; Blake LeGrande – 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, 4 TT, 1 TFL; Riley McDonald – 2 solo tackles, 2 assists, 4 TT, 1 blocked XP; Cameron Tillison – 1 solo tackle, 3 assists, 4 TT, 1 TFL; Jonathan Zimmerman – 1 solo tackle, 3 assists, 4 TT; Mehaffey Jones – 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 3 TT; Paul Williams – 3 assists, 3 TT; Carp Carpenter – 2 solo tackles, 2 TT, 1 TFL; Cameron Smith – 2 assists, 2 TT; Dale Kohr – 1 solo tackle, 1 assist, 2 TT; Avery Johnson – 1 assist, 1 TT; Gavin Yeiser – 1 assist, 1 TT.
Turnovers: CONNOR SHOWALTER – 1 fumble recovery
Governor Mifflin 49, Lebanon 7
While the Lebanon Cedars enter the season with an 0–7 record, they continue to show determination, refusing to be shut out by stronger opponents. On Friday night, the Cedars traveled to take on Governor Mifflin, a team that came into Week 8 with a 2–5 record. While that mark might not seem impressive, one of those wins came over Section 1 powerhouse Hempfield, and their only other loss was a close non-league contest against Wilson.
Governor Mifflin came out strong, building a 21–0 lead by the end of the first quarter and extending it to 35–0 by halftime. They would add two more touchdowns in the second half to push the lead to 49–0.
Despite the deficit, Lebanon refused to quit. In the fourth quarter, quarterback Eli Read capped a persistent drive with a short rushing touchdown, putting the Cedars on the board.
While Lebanon falls to 0–8, it’s worth noting that the team has only been shut out once this season, in a Week 1 loss to Palmyra. Beyond the win-loss record, the Cedars’ determination and perseverance remain commendable, as they continue to battle hard in every contest.
Octorara 56, Northern Lebanon 31
It’s been a challenging season for the Northern Lebanon Vikings, who entered Week 8’s Homecoming game against Octorara holding a 1–6 record. After a tough loss to Lampeter-Strasburg the previous week, the Vikings were eager to turn things around, while visiting Octorara looked to bounce back from a 4th-quarter defeat to ELCO, sitting at 3–4 on the season.
On Friday, October 10th, Northern Lebanon hosted Octorara, with three games left in the season and the Vikings determined to finish strong — despite missing several key players to injuries.
The game started with Northern Lebanon deferring the opening kickoff. Octorara drove down the field on their first possession and converted on 4th-and-3 with a 29-yard touchdown pass, taking an early 7–0 lead. On their first possession, the Vikings struggled against the Octorara defense, going three-and-out despite a 13-yard run from Bryan Mitzel. A short punt gave the Vikings the ball back, but a penalty pushed them back, and the first quarter ended with Northern Lebanon trailing 7–0.
Early in the second quarter, Mitzel connected with Bryce Yocum on a 15-yard touchdown pass, but the kick was no good, leaving the Vikings down 7–6. Octorara responded with a 45-yard touchdown pass to regain momentum, making it 14–6. Northern Lebanon’s Christian Spencer returned a kickoff 46 yards to the Vikings’ 49-yard line, setting up another scoring opportunity. However, Mitzel threw a pick-six from the 42-yard line, giving Octorara a 21–6 lead.
The Vikings continued to battle, driving into the red zone but fumbling, which gave Octorara the ball at their own 23. A failed fake punt and a penalty allowed Northern Lebanon to regain possession at the Octorara 19-yard line. Mitzel then found Spencer for a 19-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 21–12. Northern Lebanon attempted a two-point conversion but was unsuccessful.
Octorara answered quickly with a 94-yard kickoff return, making it 28–12. Landon Copenhaver responded for the Vikings with a 60-yard kickoff return to the 15-yard line. Mitzel then threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Clemmer, bringing the score to 28–18; a two-point attempt was unsuccessful. Octorara added a 42-yard rushing touchdown to close out the half at 35–18.
Northern Lebanon started the second half with a three-and-out, but a quick interception by junior Jaxin Bush gave the Vikings a first down at their own 30-yard line. A fumble on the next possession gave Octorara the ball at the Vikings’ 35, and they quickly scored on a 2-yard run to make it 42–18. Mitzel later connected with Clemmer on a short pass, which Clemmer turned into a 24-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 42–24. A two-point attempt was intercepted.
Octorara controlled the remainder of the third quarter and added a 10-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth to make it 49–24. Mitzel then connected with Clemmer again on a 55-yard touchdown pass, making it 49–31. Octorara capped the scoring with a 1-yard rushing touchdown on 4th-and-1, sealing a 56–31 victory.
Northern Lebanon falls to 1–7 on the season and will look to regroup next week as they travel to face Daniel Boone.
Week 7 Results
Week 7 Recap: Annville-Cleona Wins Thriller, Edges Lancaster Catholic 21-20
Week 7 Recap: Raiders Refuse to Fold, Rally Late for Win Against Octorara
2025 LebCo Football Team-by-Team Season Outlooks
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